Even if kids are practicing social distancing on the playground, they're still touching the same surfaces as all the other kids, noted Samiksha Raut, an associate professor of biology at University of Alabama at Birmingham.

"Kids are constantly moving from one part of the playground to another and are quite prone to touching their faces -- nose, eyes, etc., at intervals," she said in a university news release. "Therefore, if they happen to touch an object with the novel coronavirus, the chances of getting infected are very high."

Though their illness is apt to be mild, kids can still be active carriers of COVID-19 before any symptoms emerge. "Above all, given their ages, they do not understand the importance of social distancing and, hence, should be actively supervised by parents and/or caretakers," Raut said.

She advised parents and other caregivers to follow U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.

Make sure kids wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based sanitizer.

Keep kids away from any family member who is sick with the virus and quarantined.